Don’t Miss Christmas

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the ￼darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him (John 1-11).

The opening words of John’s Gospel paints a vivid picture for me. Most people wouldn’t associate this passage with Christmas, but for me it’s spot on. John’s words eloquently convey the meaning of Christmas, how the Creator of the universe, who spoke billions of galaxies into existence, entered the world to save lost sinners; this is the Christmas story.

I worry that many of us have lost sight of what Christmas is really about, how we probably won’t even think about the birth of Christ because we’re so preoccupied with everything else. It’s easy to get distracted by the demands of the world, whether family, shopping, or traveling. But Christmas shouldn’t be about any of that; Christmas should always be about Christ.

What could possibly be more important than remembering God incarnate, how the God of the universe became man and dwelt among us? It’s sad because even back then we missed Christmas! The God of the universe was mocked, beaten, and spit on. He was innocent, but He was tried as a criminal. He was obedient unto death, even death on a cross.

Don’t get caught up this year with the trivialities of the world; take time to remember Christ.

Charles Spurgeon once remarked,

The proper study of a Christian is the Godhead. The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of the great God whom he calls his Father.

There is something exceedingly improving to the mind in a contemplation of the Divinity. It is a subject so vast, that all our thoughts are lost in its immensity; so deep, that our pride is drowned in its infinity . . . No subject of contemplation will tend more to humble the mind, than thoughts of God….

But while the subject humbles the mind, it also expands it. He who often thinks of God, will have a larger mind than the man who simply plods around this narrow globe…. The most excellent study for expanding the soul, is the science of Christ, and Him crucified, and the knowledge of the Godhead in the glorious Trinity. Nothing will so enlarge the intellect, nothing so magnify the whole soul of man, as a devout, earnest, continued investigation of the great subject of the Deity (The Immutability of God).

Spurgeon’s words are an important reminder that we ought to contemplate God; what better time to do this than on Christmas? We should do it everyday, really, but especially on Christmas.

2000 years ago there were many who missed Christmas; many have missed it since, and most will certainly miss it again. My hope this year is that you won’t, so Merry Christmas.

5 thoughts on “Don’t Miss Christmas”

Whilst I totally agree with the point you are making to be careful and not overshadow the true reason we are celebrating Christmas with all the worldly ado going on around that time of the year, I myself am even more hesitant to celebrate it at all and not withdraw totally from it, since I do believe the evidence that this date may not have been the real birthday of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST has quite a strong logic to it… what is your take on that?
Have you studied this question and prayed about it at all?
I’m interested in hearing your view on those claims that JESUS can not have been born on the 25th of December and that it was the catholic church who introduced this date, because it used to already be a pagan holiday (just one source instead of many:https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/bible-questions-and-answers/when-was-jesus-christ-born-was-jesus-born-on-december) – you don’t have to publish this comment at all, was just interested in what you think about it?
GOD bless you.

I haven’t researched it that much, but yes, you are right: the holiday is pretty much made up (as is all of them). However, I don’t see a problem celebrating Christmas on that specific date since we have chosen that date to honor the birth of our Lord.